Clovis group plans protest

The Concerned Citizens for Curry County are sponsoring an anti-ethanol plant rally today outside the venue for the Clovis City Commission meeting.

The rally will begin at 5:15 p.m. outside the North Annex of the Clovis-Carver Public Library, according to a news release from the group.

Its purpose is to bring attention to what the group said is growing opposition to the construction of a 108-million-gallon-a-year ethanol plant west of Clovis by the ConAgra Trade Group.

The group will also address commissioners during the open forum portion of the meeting, the release said.

“We will be asking the Clovis City Commission to join us in our effort to get the location of the plant changed so that it does not create a health problem for our community,” coalition member Johnny Chavez said in the release. He said he lives close to the proposed location on U.S. 60-84 and doesn’t want it built there.

The New Mexico Environmental Department is expected to rule on the plant’s air quality permit later this month. A hearing officer recommended last month the permit be approved.